Although Language and Literacy research has become an impetus for change in the K-12 arena, Developmental and Adult Education practices have evolved little as a result of such inquiries. Driving instruction away from rote practice of discreet skills, educators have the opportunity to depart from deficit models of education and open up the…

Lowman responds to questions concerning his book, "Mastering the Techniques of Teaching," and his views on student-teacher relations, his model for effective college instruction, specific techniques for motivating students, student and teacher responsibility for learning, and the applicability of his model for developmental education. (DMM)

Ted Miller, professor of counseling and human development at the University of Georgia, defines developmental education and student development and then discusses the components of the Tomorrow's Higher Education Model for Student Development and the need for student affairs practitioners to foster student development rather than cater to…

Three articles by practicing instructors suggest techniques for improving developmental student success. Judith Maisey describes values clarification strategies designed to help students better understand their world views. Beverly Stratton discusses the use of graphics in teaching paragraph organization. Judy Lambert outlines writing topics…

Suggests using weekly news magazines to help students develop reading and writing skills. Discusses classroom activities used by the author, such as free reading time, asking questions, writing exercises, maintaining portfolios, analyzing advertisements, tests based on articles, letter writing, and voter registration due to increased interest in…

Describes background and content of a library skills course paired with an English composition course in a developmental studies program for high risk university students. Several principles for teaching developmental students are listed, and suggestions for pairing courses are offered. (nine references) (MES)

The purpose of this case study was to describe the role of teacher knowledge in the instructional methods of a community college developmental literacy instructor and determine in what ways that knowledge may have impacted the perceptions of the student participants regarding their authority over their academic progress in the class. Therefore,…

Following the introduction of the middle school in the 1960s with its advocacy of a 5-8 or 6-8 grade configuration, no comprehensive statement appeared to crystallize the educational beliefs inherent in this emerging educational reform effort. This paper is not just a revision of the 1982 position statement, but a "re-vision" of middle…

This digest discusses the findings of empirical studies on teacher-directed and child-initiated preschool programs. Three long-term preschool curriculum comparison studies--the High/Scope Preschool Curriculum Comparison, the Louisville Head Start Study, and the University of Illinois Study--were started in the 1970s. These studies indicated that…

Over a 27-year teaching career in schools in North London and the Zambian bush I have relished the challenge of helping the disaffected or reluctant learner. Most of my teaching was in the area of business and vocational education, where learners have often been placed not through choice but because they were not seen as high enough achievers to…

Presents a study of outcomes of three methods of vocabulary instruction (i.e., the use of contextual cues, the use of definitions, and a mixed approach) when supplemented by computer-assisted instruction (CAI) using a mixed approach. Reports that CAI was effective with contextual only, definition only, and mixed approaches. (50 citations) (AJL)

Examines the advantages of linking two developmental writing classes to an early American history course, indicating that students were more motivated to do the college-level work and that they received college credit for the course. Describes benefits for both the teachers and students engaged in the project. (20 citations) (MAB)

Examines the informal and formal measures of assessing developmental students' writing. Puts forth implications for classroom guidelines, making suggestions based on research results of composition scholars. Discusses paper grading and management of paperwork load. Contains 17 references. (VWC)

Compares the effects of explicit instruction of the Preread-Read-Organize-Review (PROR) textbook reading strategy in a course-based context (where students apply reading strategies to their own college textbooks) versus a content-based context (where students apply reading strategies only to texts provided in the reading class). Draws no…

Dissatisfaction with student success has caused a crisis in developmental education. Critics from both inside and outside the field question whether remedial courses really prepare students for future college work or even if they are properly part of the college mission. In this article, we review research and present information that suggests…